Wooden coffin



vin ury.

Il NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRIEDRICH BRBAGH, OI" LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA.

WOODEN COFFIN.

Speccaton of Letters Patent No. 30,292, dated October 9, 1860.

To all whom t may concern: n

Be it known that I, FRIEDRICH BRBAGH, of Lancaster, in the county of Lancaster and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and improved mode for constructing air-tight coffins, so that a part or the entire person laid therein may be seen without undoing any part of the coflin when once closed up; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and l-etters of reference marked thereon.

The nature of my invention consists in forming the top or lid of two united halves B, on head and foot pieces D, framed together' at the wide or shoulder points by a cross piece C, the raised edges A, meeting centrally as shown in Figure l, fastened down by the screws b, thus forming four open panels, against the Linder side of which plates of glass E are secured air-tight.

Fig. 2, shows B, or one side attached to the head and foot pieces D, having pins cl, by which the lid or top is temporarily set upon the coffin, having holes on the upper edge 'for the reception of the pins d.

Fig. 4, shows an end view of the lid or top A, B, C. The recesses of the casing A, B, C', are closed by panels Gr, H, Fig. 3. To the one end of each there is a lock-button I, and on the other two stout pins K. These pins tit into holes made on the edge of the crosspiece c, for their reception, and the other end locks itself into the sides of A, and B, over the glass and secures it or protects it from Fig. 5, shows M an oval headed button,

with a screw stem entering a spring bolt,

N, which may be used or its equivalent I for fastening the narrowed end of the panels G, H between the frame or casing A, B, C, of the top or eofiin lid over the glass E, aforesaid.

The obj ect of this invention is to secure a corpse in an air-tight, wooden coiiin, by screwing the lid down at once, so as to need no reopening, and to be free from the action of the air, or annoyance of flies, as well as to prevent any unpleasant odor, and yet so that the corpse may be wholly or partly eX- posed to view, through the glass in the frame work of the lid, up t o the moment of interment, when the panels are readily inserted to protect the glass, by means of the pins and spring Abolt or catch.

Relatives from a distance are frequently prevented from seeing the corpse, especially in the summer season, when laid in the ordinary coflins in general use, having to be closed up, often long before the time of interment, on account of bad odor.

I am aware that glass is often used, inserted over the breast or face into the ordinary lids, and I do not claim the use of glass.

lVhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is The combined frame work of the coffin lid, A, B, C, D and pins CZ, with the glass plate E inserted, the loose panels G, H, with their pins K, and lock-button I, when made substantially as specified for the purpose set forth.

FRIEDRICH BRUBACH.

Titnesses JACOB STAUFFER, S. G. MUssER. 

